Janitors and Cleaners, and Housekeeping Cleaners

Janitor Definition Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.

• Remove snow from sidewalks, driveways, or parking areas, using snowplows, snow blowers, or snow shovels, or spread snow melting chemicals.
• Make adjustments or minor repairs to heating, cooling, ventilating, plumbing, or electrical systems.
• Steam clean or shampoo carpets.
• Gather and empty trash.
• Set up, arrange, or remove decorations, tables, chairs, ladders, or scaffolding to prepare facilities for events, such as banquets or meetings.
• Mix water and detergents or acids in containers to prepare cleaning solutions, according to specifications.

Janitors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Active Listening
:
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking
:
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Social Perceptiveness
:
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Coordination
:
Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Speaking
:
Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Time Management
:
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

• Washhouse Worker
• Office Cleaner
• Institutional Custodian
• Window Cleaner
• Facility Service Associate

There were about 2,384,600 jobs for Janitor in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 236,600 new jobs for Janitor by 2026. The BLS estimates 344,100 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Janitor are Utah, Washington, and Nevada
. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Illinois
. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

The salary for Janitors ranges between about $19,060 and $43,340 a year.

Janitors who work in Massachusetts, Washington, or Alaska
, make the highest salaries.

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Janitors:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office